"Okay, you said it, any form of compensation is fine, right? You took two taels of silver from me, so it’s not unreasonable for me to ask you to compensate twenty taels, is it?"
"Not unreasonable, not unreasonable."
Clearly, they could have taken it by force, yet they chose this way to make me willingly part with my silver.
Swiftly taking out the silver, then preparing to make a break for it.
"Stop."
Qian Yuanli... won’t he end this? What else does he want?
"Didn’t you already tell the fortune?"
Qian Yuanli’s heart skipped a beat.
Zhao Minghua walked over and stood in front of him: "Tell me, what are you doing in Shu City?"
This makes it difficult.
Whatever it is, I can’t say.
"This young master, I’m just an old man making a living by reading faces and telling fortunes. If I didn’t predict accurately, it was only due to external influences." Qian Yuanli made a final effort to struggle: "I’ve traversed the Jianghu for over forty years, have ventured across the whole land..."
"It’s really a coincidence, I’ve also traveled across the land, but your Capital accent is undeniable." Zhao Minghua cut to the chase: "Coming all the way from the Capital to Shu City, and even choosing to stay here, isn’t your intention a bit too obvious?"
This left Qian Yuanli speechless.
"Young master, I don’t understand what you’re talking about?"
He was holding on tough.
Besides, this person doesn’t seem like he’s from the Xiao family, as the Xiao family has no adult men. All men aged twelve and older were exiled to the Northern Desert at the time of exile.
Therefore, what is his identity?
"Don’t know? Do you want me to help you remember?"
Saying this, he waved his hand, and Qingsheng and Ah Hu immediately stepped forward, ready to take away Qian Yuanli.
"Young master, we’re all civilized people, let’s not resort to violence, no rough play."
Thinking about the purpose, thinking about the Marquis’s instructions, after all, it’s not something that can’t be seen in public.
Going is fine, just not on the main road.
"Young master, how about we talk somewhere else, like a tavern or tea house?"
"Trying to get a free meal from me?"
"No, no, it’s just..." pointing to the twenty taels of silver in his hand that hadn’t even warmed up yet, with this silver for hosting, it’s questionable who is actually freeloading.
Zhao Minghua couldn’t help but chuckle at him.
"So you really are from the Capital, you sure know how to calculate."
Zhao Minghua took him to a small tavern in town, to a private room on the second floor.
"Third Young Master, would you like something to drink here?"
"Bring some liquor from the distillery, and two pounds of braised goose meat."
Hearing Zhao Minghua’s simple orders, Qian Yuanli felt he was being frugal.
"Don’t complain, it’s the best wine in our town, the most fragrant meat." Zhao Minghua said: "Even though I’ve traveled all over, this is what I always miss. You can’t even get this in the Capital."
Is that true?
Qian Yuanli actually has a taste for it too, but considering his line of work, he doesn’t indulge often.
In the end, taking a gulp, it was indeed strong and heady, yet he had to admit it was good wine, the finest he’d ever tasted.
"Try it." Zhao Minghua handed him a goose head.
Qian Yuanli... what kind of hospitality is this?
"Have you heard of chicken neck, goose head, and duck feet? Braised goose is a specialty in our town. It would be a waste if you didn’t try it after coming all the way to Shu City."
Alright, dig in.
And indeed, it was quite delicious.
"You traveled all the way from the Capital to our Changzhou, not for the wine or the meat, so why?"
As they say, when you eat someone’s food, you can’t refuse them. After eating the goose head, you end up with a pig’s head.
The person asks a question and you have to answer it.
After all, it wouldn’t harm the Xiao family. Qian Yuanli chose his words carefully, saying it politely.
"Are you sent by the Empress’s family?"
In fact, representing the Empress.
Again, it’s connected to the Royal Family.
Zhao Minghua couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
What does the Royal Family want?
Haven’t they harmed the Xiao family enough?
Do they want to eradicate them completely?
"You actually don’t need to worry." Qian Yuanli hurriedly clarified that he’s definitely not a bad person: "When I left, the Marquis instructed me to ensure the safety of the Xiao family."
This was also the Empress’s wish, only when the Xiao family is safe, can they strengthen bonds with Xiao Chunyu, and only then will little Panpan visit the palace often to accompany the Prince.
If the Prince is well, the Marquis’s clan will be well too.
If the Prince is well, the Empress’s family will continue to enjoy wealth and prosperity forever.
If the Prince is well, it’s also a sight the Emperor is pleased to see.
No one would want to disturb a situation where everyone is happy.
"Were you ordered to protect them?"
Zhao Minghua wanted to get to the point.
"Well... not exactly." I don’t quite have that capability: "Just to relay the Xiao family’s situation back regularly."